How the White House used social alongside traditional media to announce action in Iraq

The major cable news networks picked up President Obama's 9 pm statement from the White House on new action in Iraq, but the Obama administration also used the full range of social media tools to get its message across.

In terms of the statement’s tone, Obama walked a fine line between announcing action and emphasizing that it does not signal a return to large-scale military involvement in the country. The line "today America is coming to help," in response to refugees’ concerns that the international community has abandoned them, was likely meant to be its most memorable point of emphasis.

However, the most pivotal use of Twitter by a US official took place earlier in the day. Late Thursday afternoon, Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby used the platform to push back against reports that the US had already carried out airstrikes in Iraq. The New York Timescited Iraqi and Kurdish officials in reporting that US planes had bombed ISIS targets in the country and sent out an email news alert on the subject.

Press reports that US has conducted airstrikes in Iraq completely false. No such action taken.